Off West End
Much like fringe theatre, trying to define what Off-WestEnd venue really means is a debate that would take us long into the night. So for our own sanity, we define it as those venues that are slightly bigger than the fringe venues (so roughly 100+ seats), but not the big West End or similar venues that form part of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT). Like fringe venues, Off-WestEnd are eligible for consideration for awards via the Fringe Theatre Awards.
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Love, Genius and a Walk, Drayton Arms Theatre – Review
Pros: A potted history of artistic life in early 20th century Vienna, seen through the eyes of a 21st century writer. Music, architecture, art and psychoanalysis. From Freud to Jung, Klimt to Kokoschka, they all get a look in. Cons: Words get…
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Once the musical, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch – Review
Moving, beautifully produced musical that's good for the ears and heart.
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Parents’ Evening, Jermyn Street Theatre – Review
Strong performances illuminate a script that promises more than it delivers.
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Liberty Rides Forth!, Waterloo East Theatre – Review
A show with strong bouncing tunes, a warm heart and some sly wit. Quirky and original, but it doesn't embrace its full wackiness.
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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit …, Finborough Theatre – Review
Pros: A great comic turn from Cariad Lloyd, bouncing (sometimes literally) off an equally fine Rob Crouch. Cons: It’s not a title that slips of the tongue is it! And if the title offends, then so will the play. So let’s start…
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Timeless, Theatre N16 – Review
A witty and sensitive script
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Jekyll and Hyde, Chickenshed – Review
Pros: Immersive and beautiful staging Cons: Slightly difficult to follow This musical adaptation sees Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale transplanted from its original Edinburgh setting to a smoggy, dark and dingy Victorian London. That setting is stunningly brought to life through the…
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Little by Little, Etcetera Theatre Camden – Review
Pros: Beautiful music and singing, hilariously relatable moments. Cons: A space simply not suited to a musical. Little by Little, performed by Three Barks and a Bite theatre company, is a three handed musical about ‘mates, dates and love triangles’.…
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I Will Miss You When You’re Gone, Hen and Chickens Theatre – Review
Pros: Worth watching, if just to see some of the more complex scenes played out. Cons: It could do with shortening by ten minutes or so. New, international London-based theatre company Starbound Theatre brings its tale of grief and ghosts…
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Fabric, Soho Theatre – Review
Pros: The universality of the scenario portrayed. Cons: The lack of insight and character development. Sexism is ingrained in the very fabric of society and I can’t think of a single woman who hasn’t experienced it throughout life. In the…